Brewer filter support

ABSTRACT

A beverage brewing filter structure used to retain a brewing filter and a quantity of beverage brewing substance. The brewing filter structure is designed to create a consistent bed depth and a plurality of wicking points in order to give a more even extraction of the beverage brewing substance and a better taste profile over other standard filter structures. The brewing filter structure is generally an integral filter and includes a base and a wall, which extends from the base to a top rim and defines a generally annular mouth and lip of the funnel. In the brewing filter structure, the wall operates as a sidewall of the brewing funnel and is generally continuous, without open spaces. The base of the brewing filter structure is formed from a plurality of flanges, which generally extend radially inwardly toward a center portion of the base, the tips of which terminate and create wicking points proximate to a drain aperture. The top portions of the flanges and wicking points are generally oriented in a common plane but may also define a surface which is at least partially upwardly conical. The bottoms of the flanges generally rest upon the bottom surface of the brewing funnel, which provides stability and support for the base, and thus follow the same angle that the bottom surface has from the wall, or sidewall, to the drain aperture.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is a Division of application Ser. No. 09/395,245, filedSep. 13, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,209 and titled “Brewer FilterSupport.”

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a beverage brewing filter structure forretaining a brewing substance or a combination of a filter and a brewingsubstance for infusion with heated water to produce a liquid brewedbeverage.

Many beverage brewing filter structures define a frame to support andseparate a disposable brewing filter containing a portion of brewingsubstance disposed therein from internal walls of a beverage brewingfunnel. These beverage brewing filter structures must retain the brewingfilter and brewing substance so as to space them away from the funnelwalls to define a passage therebetween, thereby permitting the liquidbrewed beverage to drain from the brewing filter, into the passage andthrough an aperture formed in the bottom of the funnel. Other beveragebrewing filter structures are also formed where the filter structuresand the brewing funnels are one in the same.

Typically, filter structures are formed to fit the shape of brewingfunnels and to support most mass-produced brewing filters (i.e.,disposable paper filters). Such filter structures generally have a basewith walls protruding from the base at an obtuse angle, forming anopening with a larger diameter than that of the base. Thus, when thebrewing substance is situated within the brewing filter, the brewingfilter generally conforms to the shape of the filter structure. Thisdesign, however, does not optimize extraction of the brewing substancebecause when the hot water infuses the brewing substance, the brewingsubstance directly above the base becomes spent very quickly whereas thebrewing substance proximally located along the angled walls is hardlyspent at all. Thus, not all of the brewing substance is infusedsubstantially the same amount, potentially leaving an uneven extractionof the brewing substance.

Also, most filter structures have a base that is angled downward so thatall the liquid brew flows toward a center point of a brewing filter thatis rested in the filter structure. The liquid brew then drains from thebrewing filter at this center point into the brewing funnel. This singledrainage point design, however, causes the brewing substance near thecenter point to be thoroughly saturated and perhaps over infused, thuspotentially creating additional uneven extraction of the brewingsubstance and making for a bitter flavor in the brewed liquid.

An object of the present invention is to provide a beverage brewingfilter structure with an increased bed depth in order to give a moreefficient and consistent extraction of the beverage brewing substanceduring the infusion process, as well as better taste profile over otherstandard filter supports.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage brewingfilter structure which has a plurality of wicking points through whichbrew may drip, drain or flow in order to provide a better taste profileover other standard filters supports, as well as a more even extractionof the brewing substance.

Briefly, and in accordance with the foregoing, the first embodiment ofthe present invention provides a novel beverage brewing filter structureused to retain a brewing filter or, including a reusable filter materialattached thereto, and to retain a beverage brewing substance. Thestructure generally includes a frame having a base, and a wall extendingfrom the base to a top rim, thus defining a generally annular mouth. Thewall is made up of a plurality of ribs or other structure defining openspaces. The wall has a first angled portion that extends from the baseand a second angled portion that extends from the first angled portionto the top rim. The first angled portion of the ribs defines a smallerangle relative to the base than the second angled portion. The ribs ofthe wall extend radially inwardly to define a base which is positionedin a plane and has a plurality of gaps therethrough. Each rib conjoinsto another rib at a center portion of the base to provide a plurality ofwicking points. The ribs of the base are supported by a bottom rim whichis generally annular.

The second embodiment of the present invention provides a beveragebrewing filter structure similar to that of the first embodiment. Thesecond embodiment differs in that the first angled portion of the ribsdefines a larger angle relative to the base than the second portion. Inthe second embodiment, the ribs also extend radially inwardly to definethe base. The base, however, is not positioned in a plane, rather theribs extend upward toward the mouth.

The third embodiment of the present invention combines a beveragebrewing filter structure and a brewing funnel into one structure. Thethird embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the walls andthe base are continuous as the filter structure also acts as the brewingfunnel. The structure also has flanges which act similar to the ribs ofthe base in that they are positioned in a plane and provide a pluralityof gaps therethrough, thereby providing multiple wicking points.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The organizationand manner of the structure and operation of the invention, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify likeelements in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a beverage brewing funnelshowing a filter structure of the first embodiment nestable inside ofthe brewing funnel and a handle attachable to the outside of the brewingfunnel;

FIG. 2 is a partial fragmentary side view of the beverage brewing funnelin which a portion of a side wall of the funnel and a correspondingportion of the filter structure of the first embodiment and brewingfilter disposed inside of the funnel have been removed; and

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of thefilter structure.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the second embodiment of the filterstructure.

FIG. 5 is a partial fragmentary perspective cross-sectional view of thethird embodiment of the filter structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While this invention may be susceptible to embodiment in differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein indetail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the presentdisclosures are to be considered exemplifications of the principles ofthe invention, and are not intended to limit the invention to those asillustrated. Like elements are denoted with like reference numerals withthe first embodiment being in the one hundreds, the second embodimentbeing in the two hundreds, and the third embodiment being in the threehundreds.

A beverage brewing funnel 120 and a beverage brewing filter structure122 are shown in an exploded view in FIG. 1 to provide greater detailfor reference to the elements thereof. In FIG. 2 the beverage brewingfunnel 120 and the beverage brewing filter structure 122 are shown inworking fashion along with a brewing filter 124 and a beverage brewingsubstance 126.

The brewing funnel 120 has a generally frustoconical shape with a topopening 128 which is defined by an annular lip 130, and a drain aperture132 formed in a bottom surface 134 thereof. A sidewall 136 generallycontinuously extends around the brewing funnel 120 between the annularlip 130 and the bottom surface 134. A slot 138 and a hole (not shown)are formed through the sidewalls 136 of the brewing funnel 120. Anannular groove 142 is formed along an inside surface 144 of the brewingfunnel 120. A handle 146 is also provided for on the outside surface 148of the sidewall 136.

The beverage brewing filter structure 122 includes a frame 149 defininga base 150 and a wall 152 extending from the base 150. The wall 152 isformed from a plurality of ribs 154, or other structures defining openspaces 155, that extend from the base 150 to a generally annular top rim156. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the ribs 154 are defined by two separatesections, a first angled portion 158 and a second angled portion 160.The first angled portion 158 extends from the base 150 at an obtuseangle relative to the base 150. The second angled portion 160 extendsbetween the first angled portion 158 and the top rim 156 at a greaterobtuse angle relative to the base 150 than the first angled portion 158.The first angled portion 158 creates a deep bed depth for the beveragebrewing substance 126 to rest in.

The base 150 of the beverage brewing filter structure 122 is formed froma plurality of ribs 161, the ribs 161 being natural extensions of theribs 154, or other structures defining open spaces 155, that make up thewall 152, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The ribs 161 extend radiallyinwardly toward a center portion 162 of the base 150. Each rib 161conjoins with another rib 161 at the center portion 162 of the base 150forming a wedge or finger 164. The center portion 162 is proximate tothe drain aperture 132 that is formed in a bottom surface 134 of thefunnel 120. The base 150 defines a plurality of gaps 166. The tip 168 ofeach finger 164 creates a wicking point 170 at the center portion 162 ofthe base 150. A generally annular bottom rim 172 provides stability andsupport for the base 150. Each rib 161 of the base 150 is generallyoriented in the same plane 174, except that the ribs 161 may be at aslight angle between the first angled portion 158 and the bottom rim172.

The brewing filter structure 122 also includes a compressible fork 176and a prong 178. The compressible fork 176 and the prong 178 arerespectively formed by an extension of the ribs 154. The compressiblefork 176 and the prong 178 allow for the brewing filter structure 122 tobe engaged with the brewing funnel 120 by using the method and apparatusdisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 5,064,533, entitled“Funnel Basket Structure”, which is commonly owned by the assigneeherein and which disclosure is herein incorporated by reference. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the configuration of the brewing filter structure122 nestled into the brewing funnel 120 has a chasm 180 between thefilter structure 122 and the brewing funnel 120 to allow liquid brew toflow through the brewing filter 124 and along the bottom surface 134 ofthe brewing funnel 120 toward the drain aperture 132.

In operation, the filter structure 122 is engaged with the funnel 120 asdescribed above. A brewing filter 124 may be placed into the brewingfilter structure 122 and a beverage brewing substance 126 is poured intothe filter 124. Alternatively, a reusable filter material, such as ametal mesh material, of known construction may be attached to thestructure in a known manner. Such reusable filter defining open spacetherein. Depending upon the amount of brewing substance 126 desired tobe used, the beverage brewing substance 126 is wholly or primarilyretained between the first angled portions 158 of the ribs 154 of thewalls 152, above the base 150.

The beverage brewing funnel 120 is then placed into a beverage brewingmachine (not shown). The annular lip 130 allows for the brewing funnel120 to be removably placed and supported within the brewing machine.When the brewing funnel 120 is placed within a beverage brewing machineand the machine is turned on, a spray of hot water enters the brewingfunnel 120 through the top opening 128. The hot water then infuses withthe beverage brewing substance 126, extracting various characteristicsfrom the brewing substance 126 to form a liquid brew. The first andsecond angled portions 158, 160 of the ribs 154 allow for a more evenextraction from the brewing substance 126, by allowing the infusion ofthe hot water with the brewing substance 126 to occur for a longer timeperiod through more portions of the brewing substance 126. Otherversions of filter supports do not allow for as even an extraction ofthe brewing substance because, first, the hot water does not infuse withas much of the brewing substance because the bed depth is more shallow,and second, because bed depth is more shallow, the infusion process doesnot take as long. The more brewing substance that is infused either byan increase in bed depth or by an increase in infusion time, the moreeven the extraction will be. The more even the extraction of the brewingsubstance, the better the taste profile will be.

The liquid brew will then gravitate toward the center portion 162 of thebase 150 of the brewing filter structure 122. In significant portion,the liquid brew will begin to drain through the brewing filter 124 atthe many different wicking points 170 created by the brewing filterstructure 122. A multitude of wicking points 170 allow for the more evenextraction of solid brewing substance 126 into liquid brewing substance126, thereby improving the flavor of the liquid brew. The liquid brewthen drains out of the brewing funnel 120 through the drain aperture 132into a liquid brew receptacle (not shown). Other versions of filterstructures have bases that angle toward the center of the structure,causing the liquid brew to wick from a single center portion. This canresult in an uneven extraction as all of the hot water necessarily mustgo through the brewing substance toward the center of the structure. Inthis regard, the substance spaced away from the center of the filterstructure will be infused for a shorter period of time than the brewingsubstance in the center of the structure. Thus, the brewing substance inthe center of the structure will most likely be thoroughly saturated andperhaps over infused, thus decreasing the flavor of the liquid brew.

Invariably, some of the liquid brew will not drain through the brewingfilter 124 at the wicking points 170, but will rather drain through thebrewing filter 124 and through the gaps 166 provided in the base 150 ofthe brewing filter structure 122. The chasm 180 provided for between thebase 150 of the filter structure 122 and the bottom surface 134 of thebrewing funnel 120 allows for the liquid brew that has drained throughthe gaps 166 of the base 150 other than at the wicking points 170 todrain through the filter 124 and flow through the chasm 180 toward thedrain aperture 132, further preventing the saturation and over infusionof the brewing substance 126 situated at the center portion 162 of thebase 150.

The second embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG.4, promotes the same operation and purpose as does the first embodiment,although the structure is different. The second embodiment will bedescribed as though it were positioned within the brewing funnel 120 ofthe first embodiment. The second embodiment includes a frame 249defining a base 250 and a wall 252 extending from the base 250. The wall252 is formed from a plurality of ribs 254, or other structures definingopen spaces 255, that extend from the base 250 to a generally annulartop rim 256. The ribs 254 are defined by two separate sections, a firstangled portion 258 and a second angled portion 260. The first angledportion 258 extends from the base 250 at an obtuse angle relative to thebase 250. The second angled portion 260 extends between the first angledportion 258 and the top rim 256 at a smaller obtuse angle relative tothe base 250 than the first angled portion 258. The first angled portion258 and the second angled portion 260 create a deep bed depth.

The base 250 of the beverage brewing filter structure 222 is formed froma plurality of ribs 261, the ribs 261 being natural extensions of theribs 254, or other structures defining open spaces 255, that make up thewall 252, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The ribs 261 extend radiallyinwardly toward a center portion 262 of the base 250. Each rib 261conjoins with another rib 261 at the center portion 262 of the base 250forming a wedge or finger 264. The center portion 262 is proximate tothe drain aperture 132 that is formed in a bottom surface 134 of thefunnel 120. The base 250 defines a plurality of gaps 266. The tip 268 ofeach finger 264 creates a wicking point 270 at the center portion 262 ofthe base 250. A generally annular bottom rim 272 provides stability andsupport for the base 250. Each rib 261 of the base 250 is generallyoriented at an angle so that the ribs 261 extend upward toward the toprim 256 of the brewing filter structure 222.

The third embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, also promotes the sameoperation and purpose as does the first embodiment, although again, thestructure is different. The third embodiment combines the brewing filterstructure 322 with the funnel 320 into one structure.

In the filter structure 322, the wall 352 also operates as a sidewall336 of the brewing funnel 320. The wall 352 is generally continuous,without open spaces. The wall 352 extends from a top rim 356, which alsooperates as an annular lip 330 of the funnel 320, to the base 350. Thebase 350 of the brewing filter structure 322 is formed from a pluralityof flanges 382. The flanges 382 extend radially inwardly toward a centerportion 362 of the base 350. The center portion 362 is proximate to thedrain aperture 332 that is formed in a bottom surface 334 of the funnel320. The base 350 defines a plurality of gaps 366. The tip 384 of eachflange 382 creates a wicking point 370 at the center portion 362 of thebase 350. The bottom surface 334 of the brewing funnel 320 providesstability and support for the base 350. The tops 384 of the flanges 382are generally oriented in the same plane, but the bottoms 386 of theflanges 382 are not. The bottoms 386 of the flanges 382 rest on thebottom surface 334 of the brewing funnel 320 and thus follow the sameangle that the bottom surface 334 has from the wall 352, or sidewall336, to the drain aperture 332. Thus, the flanges 382 are tallerproximate to the drain aperture 332 than when proximate to the wall 352or sidewall 336.

What is claimed is:
 1. A beverage brewing filter structure for retaininga quantity of beverage brewing substance comprising: a base, a wallextending upwardly from said base defining a mouth, a plurality offlanges extending from said base, each of said flanges having a topportion; each of said flanges extends from said wall towards a centerportion of said base, said top portions of said plurality of flangesbeing generally oriented in an upwardly direction from said wall towardsaid mouth, each of said flanges having at least one wicking point, saidbeverage brewing filter structure being integrally formed.
 2. A beveragebrewing filter structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said wall iscontinuous.
 3. A beverage brewing filter structure as defined in claim1, wherein said wall comprises a plurality of opposable side walls.
 4. Abeverage brewing filter structure as defined in claim 1, wherein saidplurality of flanges generally extend radially from said wall towardssaid center portion of said base.
 5. A beverage brewing filter structureas defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of flanges have a lengthshorter than said distance between said wall and said center portion ofsaid base.
 6. A beverage brewing filter structure as defined in claim 1,wherein said plurality of flanges have a length equal to said distancebetween said wall and said center portion of said base.
 7. A beveragebrewing filter structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said pluralityof flanges consist of said flanges having a length shorter than saiddistance between said wall and said center portion of said base and saidflanges having a length equal to said distance between said wall andsaid center portion of said base.